ABSTRACT

The remarkably low performance of pig farmers and the apathy to pig farming due to the enviroqmental pollution caused by piggeries in areas where they are located, necessitated this study which assessed piggery waste management environmental pollution and resource use efficiency among pig farmers in Imo State, Nigeria. Socioeconomic characteristics of the pig farmers were examined; the different piggery waste management systems in the study area were identified; the level of environmental pollution, caused by the piggeries was assessed and the perception of its effect on their neighbours was analyzed; the protection distances from odour pollution due to the location of the piggeries. were determined; the annual operating profitability based on the different waste management systems as identified in the study area was assessed, and the determinants of profitability of pig farming were identified and quantified. Estimation of technical efficiency, identification and quantification of the determinants of technical efficiency of the sampled pig farmers were carried out. Primary data were collected from 60 pig farmers selected using multi stage sampling technique. Cost-route pproach was used to collect data onsocioeconomic characteristic, input and output magnitudes and the value of the pigs. Furthermore, five (5) closest neighbours to each pig farm were interviewed making up a total of 300 respondents in this category. Soil and,.water samples from the dump sites and streams, where the effluents are channeled were collected and analyzed in the laboratory. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, interactive set back model for odour annoyance from piggeries, Liken scale, laboratory test and econometric techniques. The result showed among others that majority of the pig farmers (75%) practiced open dumping and incineration system of waste management and generated an average annual output of 67,952.4kg of dung. The result showed that three different waste management systems are currently practiced in the study area. They include; open dumping and incineration, utilization for crop and fish farrilirig; and • stream dumping. Among the respondents, 45 representing 5% practice open dumping and incineration. This group of pig farms produced an average annual output of 67, 952.4kg of dung. The study further revealed that current location distances of the farms differed significantly from the protection distances estimated. Also a tolerable optimum stock size that will produce odour which could be diffused by atmospheric air in relation tothe distance to their closest neighbours was established. 91.6 out of 150 points on the tikert scale (representing 61%) indicated a moderately high level of pollution as perceived by 300 neighbours to pig farms. Again, the presence of faecal coli forms in the sampled polluted water indicated high level of water pollution. Profitability ana'ses shows that among the different waste management systems, farmers who practice stream dumping had the highest F3CR of 1.74. The double-log functional form of the regression equation chosen against three other functional forms indicated that most of the coefficients of the variables used wee significant and negatively related to profit. The estimation of production function of the respondents showed that the variance ratio prameter (Gamma = 2 Ic 2 ) was statistically greater than zero and very large (4.1041), implying that variations in actual output from rriaximum output between farms mainly arose from differences in farm practices rather than random variability. The technical efficiency estimate showed a niean value of 0.59. It is therefore recommended that policies geared towards improving pig farming viability in lmo State should be focused on designing a more acceptable system of waste management by encouraging private investors to get involved in establishment of industries that utilize piggery waste as a raw material. This will improve the efficiency of pig farms. A clearly defined protection distance that will establish an optimum tolerable stock size for pig farms based on their locations should be prescribed to all stake holders. Young people should be encouraged to be involved in pig farming.